Proceedings

The general council was preceded by three events:

1. A youth rally was held August 11 and 12 (Appendix 26).
2. A meeting of the WARC executive committee was held August 12 and 13, which was devoted to the final preparations of the general council. On Sunday, August 13, the executive committee participated in an act of thanksgiving and prayer which was held at Pagoda Park, in the centre of the city. As part of the act, a message was sent to all Presbyterian churches in Korea (Appendix 27).
3. A women's pre-council conference was held August 14 (Appendix 28).

During the general council, a special visitors' programme was organized (Appendix 29).

Tuesday, August 15 1989

Opening Worship

Opening worship was held in the amphitheatre of Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea at 9.00 am. The service, including holy communion, was conducted by Rev Dr Alain Blancy, France, Rev Dr Kim Hyung Tae, Korea, and Mrs Joy Michael, India. The preacher was Rev Dr Allan A Boesak, WARC president, on the text of Mk 8.27-30, the theme of the council being "Who do you say that I am?" (Appendix 1).

Morning session: Plenary 1

Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Welcome by the WARC president

The president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Presbyterian and Congregational), Rev Dr Allan Boesak, convened the 22nd general council in the Centennial Hall of Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, at 11.25 am. He welcomed those present.

Roll call

The general secretary informed the assembly that a full list of participants would be ready by August 16. The roll was called by asking the delegates to stand up continent by continent. The president declared the general duly constituted. Later in the general council, the official list of participants was distributed.

Admission of new member churches

The general secretary read the names of nine churches that had applied for membership in WARC:

• Evangelical Reformed Church of Burkina Faso (Eglise évangélique reformée du Burkina Faso), Burkina Faso
• Protestant Church of Christ the King (Eglise protestante du Christ-Roi, République Centrafricaine), Central African Republic
• Presbyterian Church in Bolivia (Iglesia Presbiteriana en Bolivia), Bolivia
• National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Mexico), Mexico
• Christian Church in East Timor (Gereja Kristen di Timor Timur, GKTT), East Timor, Indonesia
• Central Sulawesi Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah, GKST), Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Church of Pakistan, Pakistan
• Kiribati Protestant Church, Kiribati
• Reformed Congregational Churches in the Marshall Islands, Marshall Islands

It was moved by the executive committee that these churches be accepted as members of WARC, and approved unanimously. The president asked the representatives of these churches to take their seats as delegates.

Greetings

Greetings were brought to the general council by President Oah Lim of the Presbyterian Church of Korea and Dr Young Shik Park, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea.

Minutes of the 21st general council (Ottawa 1982)

The general council approved unanimously the minutes of the 21st general council (Ottawa 1982), no response having been received from the member churches.

Recording secretary

It was suggested by the general secretary and agreed that Rev Dr William A McComish be appointed as recording secretary of this council.

Agenda

The agenda was submitted by the general secretary and agreed. Rev Pamela Dickey Young of the United Church of Canada wondered whether it was not overcharged.

Rules of procedure for the conduct of business (Appendix 3)

The rules of procedure were submitted by the general secretary and agreed.

Membership of committees and sections

A document listing the membership of committees was distributed, to be voted on the following day. Rev Dr Grégoire Ambadiang de Mendeng expressed concern that some consultants could be busier than delegates who might be less involved in the work of committees and who would therefore risk criticism by their churches on their return home. The president informed the council that extra names for committees could be suggested to the general secretary before the morning of August 16.

The general secretary proposed all names on the list for sections in the name of the executive committee. The lists would be formally adopted on August 16.

It was announced by the president, and greeted with acclamation, that neither photographs nor films be permitted to be taken during the public worship of God.

The general council rose at noon.

Afternoon session: Plenary 2

The general council was convened at 2.40 pm.

The WARC president, Dr Allan A Boesak, chaired the meeting.

Address by Rev Dr Chun Ming Kao, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (Appendix 4)

In the name of the general council the president welcome Rev Dr Chun Ming Kao of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan who had been in prison when the Ottawa general council had expressed concern about his fate and, in solidarity with Dr Kao, had sung one of his hymns.

Dr Kao addressed the council.

Address by the general secretary (Appendix 5).

In the name of the general council the president welcomed the general secretary who presented his final report. In thanking Rev Dr Edmond Perret, the president said that it was always the privilege of someone leaving an organization to speak his mind. He offered Dr Perret his warmest thanks in the name of WARC.

The general council rose at 3.55 pm.

Afternoon session: Plenary 3

The general council was convened at 4.45 pm.

Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Address by Prof Dr Lukas Vischer (Appendix 6).

Rev Professor Lukas Vischer read his address, "Living in and under God's covenant".

There being time for questions, Rev Dr Nicolaas Smith of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Africa asked if it were not time that we stopped keeping God in bondage within the boundaries of our confessions. The Reformed churches must be able to say in public that they have overcome the Reformation. The more churches there are - as in South Africa - the more irrelevant they become. A divided church can never deliver a clear message to the world.

Rev Samuel Ador of the Presbyterian Church of the Sudan said that we must have a common statement to proclaim our faith, we must become a confessional church.

Professor Lukas Vischer basically agreed with these speakers, but he believed that the Reformation did not so much need to be overcome as fulfilled, since a rupture was not among the aims of the reformers. As to the idea of a common confession of faith, Dr Vischer thought it impossible, but he considered that it might well be possible to identify the main issues of the day and to respond together.

The session was closed with prayer by the president and the general council rose at 5.30 pm.

The general council was invited to a reception offered by the moderators of the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) in the garden of the official residence of the president of Yonsei University.

At 7.30 pm an opening festival, a Korean night, was held in the amphitheatre, during which Dr Chung Hyun Ro, WARC vice-president, delivered greetings (Appendix 7, p. 122).

Wednesday, August 16 1989

At 8.30 morning worship was conducted by Rev Charles Odier, in French, in the amphitheatre.

Morning session: Plenary 4

Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Bible Study

A Bible study was conducted by Dr Elisabeth Moltmann and Prof Dr Jürgen Moltmann of Tubingen, on "Who do you say that I am ?" (Appendix 8)

Afternoon session: Plenary 5

Greetings (contd.)

The following ecumenical delegates were welcomed by the council: Ephorus Dr Soritua Nababan, representing the World Council of Churches; Rev So Young Kim of the Korean Christian Literature Association, representing the Christian Conference of Asia; Mr Ho Yong Kim of the Korean Bible Society, representing the United Bible Societies; Mrs Ruth Yangroon Choi, representing the Anglican Consultative Council, Rev Chang No, representing the Baptist World Alliance; Mrs Kathy Helseth of the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council; Rev Daniel Chang Kyu Na of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul; Dr Andreas Aarflot of the Lutheran World Federation; Archbishop Simon of Riasan and Kasimov of the Moscow Patriarchate; Dr Richard L Van Houten of the Reformed Ecumenical Council; Dr Sung Tae Joseph Kim of the Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Seoul; Dr Roland Karlman of the Seventh-Day Adventists; Bishop Sung Woo Kim, president of the National Council of Churches of Korea; and Dr Young Shik Park, president of Yonsei University; as well as the representatives of non-member churches.

The general council was addressed by President Young Shik Park, who spoke of Yonsei University as a stronghold of the Christian faith in Asia, forming young people for the important struggles ahead. Founded a century ago by the Presbyterian Church, it now has 30,000 students.

Bishop Sung Woo Kim, the president of the National Council of Churches of Korea, spoke of the pain caused by disunification among the Christian churches of Korea.

Representing the World Council of Churches, Dr Soritua Nababan spoke of the ecumenical commitment of WARC, which was expressed not only through the WCC but through an important series of bilateral discussions.

Stephen Cardinal Soo Hwan Kim of the Roman Catholic Church asked for God's blessing on the council, mentioned our common witness and the sadness of our divisions and asked that we might concentrate on what unites rather than on what divides.

A message was also read from His Holiness Dimitrios I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Archbishop Simon of Riasan and Kasimov, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, spoke of the pleasure of being in a general council with so many young people. It was an honour to offer greetings on behalf of his holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and all Russia. He stressed that we must face the future together since everyone of us is responsible for the future of the world.

Written messages were also received from the Anglican Consultative Council, the Lutheran World Federation, the Unity Board of the Unitas Fratrum (Moravian churches), His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the National Council of Churches in Korea, the China Christian Council, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and the Presbyterian Church in the Sudan.

The president announced the amount of the offering at the opening worship which consisted of 2,797,198 won, USD 112, and cash in 16 other currencies. The offering was destined for the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique and the training of ministers in the Evangelical Church of Vietnam.

Address by the WARC president (Appendix 10)

The president, Rev Dr Allan Boesak then addressed the council.

Dr Boesak called on Bishop Dr Karoly Toth, WARC vice-president, to chair the remainder of the session.

The general secretary presented lists of membership of committees and sections. He informed the council that many names were not listed under sections, but that all were welcome who wished to attend, provided only that they did not change from one section to another during the council.

The list of members of committees gave the changes agreed by the steering committee. The amended list was moved by the steering committee and agreed unanimously (Appendix 11).

The first meeting of the following 10 regional groups was held in the second part of the afternoon: Africa I (English-speaking); Africa II (French-speaking); Asia I (India. Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan); Asia II (Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore); Caribbean and North American area; European area; Latin America; Middle East and North Africa; Pacific-Australasia-New Zealand; and southern Africa.

At 8 pm in the auditorium, an Indonesian group, including Balinese dancers, made a presentation and led worship on the theme, "Who do you say that I am?"

Thursday, August 17 1989

Morning worship was held in the amphitheatre.

The council met in sections and committees.

A presentation by the women members of the executive committee on "Community of men and women" was made in the evening.

Friday, August 18 1989

Morning worship was held in the auditorium.

The council met in sections and committees.

A presentation by African delegates on "The African challenge - refugees on our continent" was made in the evening.

Saturday, August 19 1989

Morning worship was held in the auditorium.

The council met in sections.

Sunday, August 20 1989

Members of the general council attended worship and preached throughout Korea. They were very warmly received by many congregations.

Monday, August 21 1989

Morning worship was held in the auditorium.

The council met in sections and committees.

A presentation by European delegates on "The witness of minorities in today's Europe" was made in the evening.

Tuesday, August 22 1989

Morning worship, in Spanish, was held in the auditorium.

Morning session: Plenary 6

Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, convoked the general council at 9.15 am and chaired the meeting.

Peace and reunification of Korea

Songs were provided by the Korean youth group. The president introduced Mr Moon Kyu Kang, the presider of the presentation on "Peace and reunification of Korea", Dr Chung Hyun Ro, Dr Samuel Lee, Dr Yong Bok Kim and Dr Kyung Seo Park.

Professor Ro informed the council that the division of Korea had caused great suffering: the Korean war had left 100,000 orphans; 10 million Koreans came from separated families; and one and a half million Korean soldiers are still facing each other, with the threat of nuclear war.

Mr Kang expressed his appreciation of the fact that the World Alliance was providing this platform for a Korean presentation and introduced a slide show.

Dr Lee said that peace in Korea could not be separated from the issue of reunification. The division of Korea along the 38th parallel by the great powers after the defeat of the Japanese was arbitrary and artificial and could only produce trouble. There was no peace treaty between North and South Korea, and since a limited nuclear war was not impossible, this threatened the peace of the world. In both parts of Korea, the idea of the "enemy" was used to limit freedom. Some 30-40 per cent of the budget of both sides was spent on arms that could only devastate the Korean homeland.

Dr Kim described the response of the Korean churches. He said that the mark of Korean Christianity was the identification with the sufferings of the people. It was so during the period of Japanese occupation and at the present time. If Korean churches did not share the aspirations for peace, their witness would be in vain. He described the "Declaration of the churches of Korea on national reunification and peace" that was adopted by the 37th general meeting of the National Council of Churches in Korea on February 29 1988 (Appendix 12). He informed the council that 1995, the 50th anniversary of separation, had been announced as a year of jubilee and pilgrimage that the Lord might be favourable to his people.

Dr Park, Asian secretary of the World Council of Churches. described the work of Unit II of the WCC which had arranged visits to both North and South Korea as well as a meeting between delegations from both sides. Japanese, Canadian and American churches had sent delegations to North Korea, the Americans and Germans had already invited them, and the Japanese and Canadians would invite them in return. Despite difficulties in North Korea, 177 young pastors had been ordained since 1981.

Rev Nikolaos Tsianiklides of the Greek Evangelical Church asked if there were any political party in South Korea not in favour of reunification. Dr Lee answered that some 90 per cent of the people in South Korea want reunification and that this was shared by the people of North Korea, including their government. The problem was to find out how this might be done. The strongest obstacle was that of ideological mistrust built up by communist or anti-communist propaganda. Freedom of travel was seen as one way of building trust.

Mr Richard Van Houten of the Reformed Ecumenical Council was impressed that the Korean churches' declaration began with an admission of guilt but was surprised that they wanted American troops removed only after a peace treaty. Dr Kim answered that there must be a process of disengagement from the war situation that still existed. Mr Kyu stated that a peace treaty involving the foreign powers was necessary before any armistice.

Mr Hyung Ki Kim of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea spoke of the work of young people for reunification and of their willingness to suffer for it. He doubted if the United States believed in Korean reunification and pointed out that the South Korean government still used the national security law to limit opposition.

Dr Lars Lindberg of the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden asked if things had changed since the election of the new president in South Korea. Mr John Gilbey of the United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom asked if there were changes in North Korea like those inspired by Mr Gorbachev in eastern Europe, and Ms Evelyn Martin of the Reformed Church in Austria asked what other churches might do to help. Dr Park answered that the evolution of North Korea was very slow and was not to be compared with the situation in eastern Europe. Dr Lee said that political life had been greatly changed since the introduction of democracy in South Korea but that there were various struggles taking place concerning the rights of labour unions, teachers and students. Dr Kim noted that the Korean situation was part of a worldwide situation and that all churches would benefit from sharing and from being less isolated from one another's problems.

The council rose at 10.57 am and reconvened at 11.33 am.

Morning session: Plenary 7

Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

The Alliance and South Africa

The president introduced a panel of four speakers: Rev Dr Christian F Van der Merwe from Zambia; Rev Russell Botman of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa; Rev Dr Michael Moore of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa; and Rev Kgolo Felix Mokobi, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, Synod of Botswana.

Dr Van der Merwe spoke about Church and Society, the policy document of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). It was a revision of a 1974 document. The older document, which was a justification of apartheid, was revised because it had been attacked from within and without the Dutch Reformed Church as well as by WARC. Church and Society was not written lightly; much prayer and many good intentions went into its writing. Its content basically deals with the nature and being of the church and the relationship of church and society, especially the DRC and South Africa. Part I deals with how differences of race, colour, culture, languages, education, economic situation and religion can cause conflict. Part II, in very typically Reformed language, deals with the principles of group relations between church and society. Part III is practical and deals with interchurch relations, especially those with other Dutch Reformed Churches.

It is an official policy document of the DRC, claimed to be a new beginning. It is by this that the DRC wishes to be judged. It is claimed to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The DRC is clearly no longer "the National Party at prayer" and confesses its guilt for apartheid. Rev Van der Merwe asked if this document could be seen as real opposition to the apartheid system and expressed his personal opinion that it could not. He stated four reasons:

1. In part 1, the DRC analysis is clearly an apartheid analysis, in that it is racial groups that matter, not what apartheid has done to relationships between groups.
2. In part II, "freedom of association" is not mentioned and people are only seen as members of groups.
3. In the practical part, the great principles of the middle part are not put into practice and when apartheid is denounced, it is the old form and not the modern variety that is denounced.
4. Many members of the DRC do not see it as an unqualified denial of apartheid and still make the distinction between "negative" and "positive" apartheid.

Dr Van der Merwe said that the DRC was still not free of the white Afrikaaner interest and still saw the government as legitimate.

Rev Russell Botman said that it was easier to be Reformed in South Africa since the return of Dr Allan Boesak. In the same year, the South African government at last combined the combat of communism with its combat against the people of South Africa and thus prepared the way for the state of emergency declared in 1985.

Following the suspension of the two white churches in 1982 from WARC membership, much pastoral work was done to try to bring them back, since the Reformed churches in South Africa believed in reunification and reconciliation. God stands on the side of the exploited and the poor, and many members had been detained since 1985. The relationship with the DRC was strained, since Church and Society was the only answer of the DRC. The black churches had confessed their guilt and said they would not treat others as they had been treated. They asked for an end of the state of emergency and for negotiations with the real leaders of the majority of the people so as to get power sharing in government. So far the DRC had refused to cooperate with these demands. The black churches pledged to continue the struggle and to become one non-racial Reformed church in South Africa.

Ms Evelyn Martin of the Reformed Church in Austria asked what the speakers thought about economic sanctions. The president pointed out that the WARC executive committee had already called for economic pressure. There was reluctance from the UK, West Germany, Japan, France and Switzerland. The US had gone farther than most countries except for the Scandinavians.

Rev Joachim Guhrt of the Reformed Alliance in Germany said that it was important to make it clear that the government of South Africa was illegitimate and so legitimize black resistance. The president answered that this would be discussed in the report of policy reference committee II.

Rev Peter Lamoela of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa wanted to know about the attitudes of the other Reformed churches in South Africa. Rev Dr Michael Moore pointed out that his church had a long history of opposition to apartheid and he also mentioned the tensions between English- and Afrikaans-speaking South African whites. Rev Mokobi said that his church was in favour of sanctions.

Rev Nikolaos Tsianiklides of the Greek Evangelical Church said that he was proud of the 1982 decision. He was disappointed at the DRC reaction and thought that this struggle resembled the struggle for desegregation in the United States. Rev Van der Merwe responded that misunderstandings develop because people understand quite different things from the same words. This is why actions are so important. He was sad that the offer of fellowship from the black Dutch Reformed churches had been refused.

Rev Mayela Tshimungu of the Communauté presbyterienne de Kinshasa, Zaire, asked if the churches of the Bantustans were against apartheid. The president answered that this was true.

Rev Dr Nicolaas Smith of the Dutch Reformed Church in Africa believed that the problems were so deep that no political party or government would be able to change the situation. The only hope was that, in a country where 80 per cent of the population belonged to a Christian church and 60 per cent of these belonged to Reformed churches, a movement of the whole people like that of the Philippines might bring about a transformation. WARC had a duty to help the fourteen daughter churches of the DRC.

Rev Hans Ulrich Reitzel of the Eglise évangélique du Maroc asked what might be done to help in the present situation. The president stressed the importance of supporting the churches in South Africa.

Rev Mokobi stressed the need to sharpen awareness of the consequences of the situation in South Africa on the worsening conditions in the surrounding countries. He mentioned Angolan support for children displaced by fighting in Namibia.

The council rose at 1.00 pm.

Committees met in the afternoon.

In the evening there was a presentation by a group from New Caledonia and Australia on the theme, "Healing the land - land rights as restoration and renewal".

Wednesday, August 23 1989

At 8.30 morning worship was conducted by an Asian group in the auditorium.

Morning session: Plenary 8

The general council convened at 9.15. Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Greetings (contd)

The president welcomed Rev Yong-Ju Yang of the council of Presbytenan Churches in Korea and moderator of the Dae Shin Presbyterian Church. Rev Yang addressed the council, using Ephesians 4.3-9 as his text. The CPCK represents five Presbyterian churches out of fifty in the Republic of Korea. The unity of the church helps us combat heresy and the Antichrist. There is some progress in that there is now a common hymnal and a common translation of the Bible.

Report of policy reference committee I: "The Alliance in the Nineties"

Professor Chung-Hyun Ro, moderator of policy reference committee I, presented the report of the committee. He spoke of the long and intensive study that had gone into the writing of the report on "The Alliance in the Nineties". He called on Rev Dr Viktor Makari to read the report of the committee.

Dr Makari said that policy reference committee I received the report of the subcommittee on "The Alliance in the Nineties", and commended it to the general council for approval. The committee took seriously the financial implications of the report, and was very interested in discovering alternative means of implementing it. He proposed the following motion:

"Faced with today's challenges, the general council recognizes the need of the Alliance to move in the direction recommended in the report, "The Alliance in the Nineties', and endorse it, in principle, with appreciation and enthusiasm."

Rev Prof Lukas Vischer said that the future of WARC depended not only on the decision but on the commitment behind the decision. The printed report was the result of a long process of consultation. WARC was not strong enough to face up to the challenges of today. The number of member churches had increased and was a burden on the secretariat. Extra work was caused by situations of conflict. Many WARC member churches were not members of the World Council of Churches because of their small size or because of conviction. If the report were adopted. member churches would need to pay more though there might be new methods of cooperating with structures, such as theological institutes or faculties, that already exist within the member churches.

Kirchenrat Dr Herbert Ehnes of the Church of Lippe in Germany spoke about finance. He pointed out that two-thirds of our members were "third world" churches and that about half were not members of the World Council of Churches. It was important on our return home to ask our churches to help the Alliance, and he hoped that the general council would encourage the churches to contribute more generously. The "Alliance in the Nineties" report suggested six staff members with secretarial help and this would require a budget of 1.6 million Swiss Francs from 1991. Yet staff could not be added if the money were not contributed. He believed in the priority of the appointment of an assistant to the general secretary to deal with finances. He also wanted an addition to the constitution to say that membership of the Alliance implies contribution.

Rev Antoine Pfeiffer of the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine was sorry that our discussion began with finance, he would have preferred that it began with the needs of the churches. Could new regions not be established? Could there not be more visits from one church to another? We cannot do everything at once, but these kinds of activities help to raise finances.

Dr Johannes Langhoff of the Reformed Association in the GDR said that the churches in eastern Europe did not have the convertible currency to send to WARC but that they could host meetings or get partner churches to pay contributions on their behalf.

Rev Pieter Bouman of the United Protestant Church of Belgium said that a full debate on priorities was necessary: he asked if the European area could stop using the general secretary as European secretary and if a move from Geneva might not be considered, since it is an expensive city.

Rev Felix Agou of the Eglise protestante du Christ-Roi in the Central African Republic felt that the report did not say enough about the role of the general secretary.

Rev Hugh Davidson of the Church of Scotland said that his church agreed with the main ideas of the report, and had sympathy with the staff in Geneva. The problem was that the Church of Scotland also had problems and was reducing its budget for 1990. It would be extremely difficult to increase contributions to WARC in the near future.

Rev Gerrit Noltensmeier of the Church of Lippe in Germany said that it would be easier to raise contributions if the goals were clearly known. The Alliance needed imaginative programmes like JPIC to make our specific contribution to the Christian family.

Rt. Rev Noah Dzobo of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana asked if there were many churches that could not pay because their currencies were non-convertible.

Rev Michel Twagirayesu of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda said that to contribute, people must be clear about what our Reformed identity is today. The programme was not clear.

Rev Samuel Dansokho of the Protestant Church of Senegal said that we should improve our use of documents. WARC should help its members to face their real-Iife problems. He had doubts about the partnership fund since it increased the talk about money.

Rev Clifton Kirkpatrick of the PCUSA argued that we need to know the cost of the new structure. If our financial outlay far outran our commitments the Alliance could face collapse.

The council rose at 10.40 am.

The discussion on the "Alliance in the Nineties" continued with Attorney Emilio Capulong of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines saying that WARC should be the advocate of persecuted churches with their governments. Since the best way would be through the UN commission on human rights, it would be necessary to upgrade the status of the Alliance within the UN.

The general secretary agreed that it was necessary to define the needs of the Alliance as well as Reformed identity. It was a pity that the discussion had turned so quickly to money since the problem was not primarily financial. Only a small augmentation would be necessary, say half a million Swiss francs or 350 people each willing to find USD1,000 for the Alliance, a tiny sum of money when compared with the budgets of the churches.

Rev Prof Lukas Vischer said that it was difficult to decide on these matters without having heard the reports of the sections.

Ms Visser-Pak proposed the motion that the discussion be stopped. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

A motion was proposed by Ms Corinne Marc and Ms Dominique Viaux of the French Reformed Church and Rev Pieter Bouman of the United Protestant Church of Belgium that:

"In the light of the fact that it costs a great deal to maintain WARC in Geneva. the general council asks the executive committee to examine the possibility of installing its secretariat in another country."

Rev Prof DWD Shaw of the Church of Scotland stated that the executive committee in Belfast had already called upon their successors to examine this problem. It was agreed.

Report of section I: "Towards a common testimony of faith"

The president introduced Rev Dr Edwin Mulder of the Reformed Church in America, who was moderator of this section, as well as his three deputies, Ms Janet Wood of the Uniting Church of Australia, Rev Samson Khumalo of the Presbyterian Church of Africa and Ms Grace Vu of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Hong Kong.

Rev Edwin Mulder read the report of section I. (Appendix 13)

Re part 3 of the report. "the community of women and men", the section offered 5 recommendations :

"1 That all WARC member churches

• strive to break down the barriers which still divide women and men within their church communities;
• listen anew to what the biblical witness says about the partnership of women and men;
• examine their theology and practices in order to recognize and eradicate sexism and attain inclusiveness;
• recognize the gifts and talents of women for ministry, and involve women fully in leadership and authority in the life of the church at all levels."

This was agreed with one abstention.

The section recommended:

"2 That all WARC member churches who do not yet ordain women seriously reconsider their position in light of the scriptural declaration of the oneness of women and men in Jesus Christ and that those churches which do ordain women seek to ensure that women receive equal pay for work of equal value in all church positions."

Ms Andrea Stucker of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches asked if this were about all church workers, or only about ordained women. Rev E Mulder replied that it was specifically about ordination. Dr Marsha Wilfong asked that the words "and that those churches which do ordain women seek to ensure that women receive equal pay for work of equal value in all church positions" be struck out of the resolution.

This was agreed with three abstentions.

Dr Marsha Wilfong then proposed a new number 3:

"That all member churches seek to ensure that women receive equal pay for work of equal value in all church positions."

Ms Jeannette Baas of the Reformed Church in America proposed that the words "be afforded equal access to assignment or position and" be added to Rev Wilfong's proposition between the words "women" and "receive".

This was seconded and agreed.

Dr Josef Hromadka of the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren said that this point was covered by the last part of recommendation 1 already adopted.

Rev Pieter Bouman of the United Protestant Church of Belgium pointed out that many churches are already obliged to give equal pay and opportunity by the law of their countries. He thought that "seek to ensure" was too weak and that the text should simply have "ensure".

This was seconded and agreed.

Professor Chung-Hyun Ro of the Presbyterian Church of Korea suggested the words "equal pay for equal work" since work of equal value is too hard to define. This was seconded. Ms Pamela Dickey Young of the United Church of Canada spoke against this amendment because there was a problem of certain jobs, such as secretarial posts, where there are many more women than men. Ms Helga Dusse of the Reformed Alliance in Germany preferred the original text.

Professor Ro's motion was voted on and agreed. The text of the number 3 now read:

"That all member churches ensure that women be afforded equal access to assignment or position and receive equal pay for equal work in all church positions."

The council rose for lunch at 1.00 pm.

Afternoon session: Plenary 9

The general council was reopened at 2.30 pm. The WARC president, Dr Allan A Boesak. chaired the meeting.

Worship

Rev Charles Odier, in the name of the worship committee, addressed the council and presented a request on behalf of the team that organized the worship and had developed the loose-leaf folder with hymns and texts that was being used at the assembly, as well as the document, "worship in the Reformed family" (Appendix 14, p. 179). It was hoped that there would be more additions to the liturgical texts in the period after the meeting at Seoul and it was hoped that the department of theology would take a considerable interest in worship in the coming years.

The president said that these matters should be referred to policy reference committee I.

Report of section I: "Towards a common testimony of faith" (contd.)

The council continued its consideration of the report of section I.

Consideration was given to recommendation 4 in the new numbering:

"That all WARC member churches examine the language used in their liturgy, confessing and official documents, and work to include language which affirms the community of women and men, which reflects the exeriences of both women and men, and which speaks about God, utilizing a broad range of biblical images, not only the masculine metaphors of God as father and king."

Noah Dzobo of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana proposed "which do not yet have and use inclusive language". Dr Marsha Wilfong said that this went beyond the simple matter of language and had wider implications. A vote was taken and the motion lost.

Rev Mayela Tschimungu of the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa, Zaire, proposed that all words after "biblical images" be deleted. A vote taken and the motion lost.

Ms Wilhelmine Van Veen de Graeff of the Remonstrant Brotherhood, the Netherlands, proposed that the words "as father and king" be deleted and "not merely the masculine metaphors of God" inserted. Rt. Rev James Ukaegbu of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria could not see the problem involved in calling God "Father". A vote was held and the motion carried by a majority.

Rev Mrs Auli M Van t' Spijker-Niemi proposed that the recommendation begin "that WARC and all its member churches..." A vote was held and the motion carried.

The whole text of 4 was now put to the vote. It was carried with a number of oppositions and abstentions.

Number 4 now read:

"That WARC and all its member churches examine the language used in their liturgy, confessing and official documents, and work to include language which affirms the community of women and men, which reflects the experiences of both women and men, and which speaks about God utilizing a broad range of biblical images, not merely the masculine metaphors of God."

Recommendation number 5 was now considered.

Frank Beattie of the PCUSA proposed that the words "of their churches" be added between the words "levels" and "of" in the last line. A vote was held and the motion passed.

Mrs Joy Michael of the Church of North India proposed that the words "and examples" be added after the word "advocates". A vote was held and the motion carried.

Attorney E Capulong of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines proposed the words "for the enactment of laws by their governments that will ensure this equality, and for the repeal of those which run counter to it." A vote was held and the motion carried.

The whole text of 5 was now put to the vote. It was carried. Number 5 now read

"That all WARC member churches act as witnesses to, agents for, and models of mutuality and reciprocity. so that they might be communities which reflect a discipleship of equals, both for themselves and for the world; and they become advocates and examples for the full participation of women at all levels of their churches and of society as a whole for the enactment of laws by their governments that will ensure this equality, and for the repeal of those which run counter to it".

Dr Hallett Llewellyn of the United Church of Canada proposed an additional recommendation, number 6;

"That WARC give its full support to and encourage the participation of its member churches in the ecumenical decade of churches in solidarity with women."

A vote was held and the motion carried.

Dr Hallett Llewellyn also proposed a new number 7:

"That this general council instruct the executive committee to gather information from its member churches on their responses to these recommendations in their life and work, and that a full report on the community of women and men in WARC reflecting these responses, be given at the 23rd general council."

A vote was held and the motion carried.

Discussion began on recommendation 8:

"That WARC assign a staff member to full-time responsibility to women's issues; and that each member church appoint a staff member to be responsible for women's issues; and to maintain contact with the appropriate WARC staff member in Geneva."

Mrs Mary Marsden of the United Reformed Church of the United Kingdom wanted the motion deleted and replaced. She disliked the term "women's issues": the issue was all kinds of injustice. Rev Charles Odier of the National Protestant Church of Geneva, Switzerland, proposed that the discussion of this point be stopped since it concerned the "Alliance in the Nineties" report because of the suggestion about a new staff member .

The motion to delay a decision was seconded and passed by a majority.

The general council continued its consideration of the section I report with a study of part 2 of the report, "status confessionis". The section offered seven recommendations - six marked "a - f" and the following paragraph, which should be marked "g".

It was moved and seconded by the committee that the 1982 Ottawa general council decision be affirmed by the 1989 council. Prof Dr Lukas Vischer said that it was important that the 1982 decision was reaffirmed since the churches had been asked to reconsider that action. Mr Frank Watson of the Uniting Church of Australia said that it was necessary to act since this report was that of a section and not that of the general council. Rev Helga Dusse of the Reformed Alliance in Germany proposed the motion that the end of paragraph 3 of section 2 of this report (starting with "decisions approved and actions taken ...") be changed to read "was and still is appropriate" instead of simply "appropriate". Rev Gregor Henderson of the Uniting Church of Australia disliked the word "appropriate" since it suggested doubts and suggested instead the wording "and confirms its 1982 decision concerning apartheid."

Rev Dr Graeme Robert Ferguson said that the council should reject both these amendments since the section has to do with "status confessionis" and not with apartheid. He mentioned that there had been doubts that the general council had power to declare "status confessionis". Votes were taken and Rev Henderson's amendment was lost but that of Rev Dusse was carried. With the addition of the words "and still is appropriate" the whole section was voted and approved with 9 abstentions.

The general council rose at 4.00 pm.

Committees met after the break.

A presentation by a Latin American group on "the debt crisis and human rights" was made in the auditorium at 8.00 pm.

Thursday, August 24. 1989

Morning worship was held in the auditorium at 8.30 am.

Morning session: Plenary 10

The general council convened at 9.15. Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Report of section I: "Towards a common testimony of faith" (contd.)

The section I report was completed by a motion of Rev Frank Beattie of the Presbyterian Church (USA), seconded by Mrs Janet Wood of the Uniting Church of Australia:

"That the WARC general council declares to its member churches that one of the great strengths of our common testimony of faith is rooted and grounded in our worship. When the members of our churches pray, read, study and interpret the scriptures, and observe the sacraments, they strengthen their own spiritual disciplines, and witness to those who are outside our churches. Without regular worship our common testimony of faith, however profound and effective, has an empty sound. In individual devotional times and in corporate liturgical worship, our common testimony of faith bears an authentic demonstration of our faith and witness to the world."

This was approved.

Report of section III: "Justice, peace and the integrity of creation"

The report (Appendix 15) was introduced by the moderator of the section, Sir Ronald Wilson of the Uniting Church of Australia, and his three deputies, Rev Dr Saindi Chiphangwi of the Church in Central Africa Presbyterian, Rev Dr Abival Pires da Silveira of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, and Rev Karin Sporre of the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden.

The report, said Sir Ronald, was in the form of a letter to the children of the world. It was not written by experts, and the language had been carefully chosen since it was useless to shout at children. There were, nevertheless, many theological aspects to the report: covenant, justice, the centrality of Jesus Christ and God's love.

The general council considered the recommendations of the report. Rev Prof George Newlands of the Church of Scotland proposed that "covenant-keeping God" be replaced by "loving, compassionate and faithful God" in the preamble to the recommendations. There was a vote and the motion was defeated.

Rev Gerrit Noltensmeier of the Church of Lippe in Germany proposed that the words "God initiated his covenant with his creation and so we are all called to enter into a covenant for justice" be added.

There was a vote and the motion was carried.

Discussion was open on recommendation 1 .

Rev Javier Torres of the Presbyterian Church of Venezuela stated that there was nothing specific said about foreign debt.

Rev Hans Ulrich Reitzel of the Evangelical Church in Morocco said that it was easy to vote for this motion since there was nothing concrete in the text.

There was a vote and recommendation 1 was passed.

The general council rose at 10.30 am.

The general council was reconvened at 11.00 am.

Relations between the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council and WARC

The president introduced delegates from member churches that have relations with the Disciples of Christ (United Reformed Church in the UK, United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), Church of Christ in Thailand, Church of North India, United Church of Christ in the Philippines. and the churches in Zaire).

The discussion was introduced by Rev Prof Lukas Vischer who outlined the relations between the Disciples of Christ and WARC.

Rev Prof Milan Opocensky then read the following statement which was approved by the general council:

Statement of the 22nd general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches on relations with the Disciples of Christ.

"In several countries Reformed and Disciples of Christ have come together in united churches and in many others they are engaged in union negotiations. In recent years, an international dialogue has been held between the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council leading to the common recognition that there are no theological or ecclesiological issues which need to keep the two traditions divided. The general council rejoices in this development and gives thanks to God for healing a division which has now existed for almost two centuries.

"The report of the dialogue was shared with the member churches; on the basis of the response received the general council feels entitled to make its own the following declaration:

"The Disciples of Christ and the Reformed churches recognize and accept each other as visible expressions of the one church of Christ. Acceptance of this declaration presses us beyond our divided histories toward a common ecumenical future. We believe that this declaration has several specific implications. It implies sufficient consensus between our two traditions on the meaning of the gospel, on baptism, the Lord's supper, and ministry to enable our churches to recognize and accept each other's members and ministries, to share reciprocally the Lord's supper, and to engage in common mission, evangelism, and service in the world. The acceptance of each other as churches also implies our commitment to remove other obstacles which keep us from sharing full fellowship and mission in the name of Christ.

"The general council instructs the executive committee to pursue the dialogue with the aim of a) deepening the mutual understanding; and b) finding ways of implementing the consensus and giving fuller expression to the communion existing between the two churches.

"The report mentions areas which require further clarification, eg the place of creed in the life of the church, the nature of the church, baptism. and the ministry. especially the ministry of elders. In order to advance on such issues the general council suggests that the Disciples of Christ should be invited to contribute on a regular basis their experience and insights to the study work of the Alliance.

"The general council endorses the suggestions on future relations between the Alliance and the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative council and, in addition. invites the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative council to participate in the work of the Alliance by naming a permanent consultant to the executive committee."

Dr Paul A Crow of the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council addressed the general council. He said that the Disciples of Christ was a world communion that had grown out of a 19th century split on confession of faith and holy communion. He hoped that closer links would be the beginning of a new vocation for the Disciples and Reformed Christians in the world. Professor Vischer gave two Korean cups of peace, one to Professor Opocensky and the other to Dr Crow.

Report of section III: "Justice, peace and the integrity of creation" (contd.)

After discussion on recommendation 2, Rev Dr A Van Seters of the Presbyterian Church of Canada moved that the text be referred back to committee. It was agreed.

Concerning recommendation 3 ("That the general council call its member churches to work toward full human rights for all people, including those within their churches. To that end, member churches that have not already done so are urged to put the ordination of women on their agenda."), Dr Hallett Llewellyn of the United Church of Canada proposed that the following words be added to the end: "and move toward its realization in their life".

A vote was taken and it was agreed.

Dr Emilio Capulong of the Philippines proposed that the beginning of the recommendation be:

"That the general council call its member churches to work toward full promotion and protection of human rights for all people, including those within their churches..."

A vote was taken and it was agreed.

Dr Marsha Wilfong of the Presbyterian Church (USA) proposed:

"That the general council call its member churches to work to correct the problems of economic injustice towards women within their churches and societies, and to help women and their children who are trapped in poverty to achieve economic emancipation and independence".

Mrs Hypatia Petkus of the Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church in the USA proposed the addition of "pray for and work toward" in the first line.

Recommendation 3 now read:

"That the general council call on its member churches to pray for and work toward full promotion and protection of human rights for all people, including those within their churches. To that end, member churches that have not already done so are urged to put the ordination of women on their agenda, and move towards its realization in their life. That the general council call its member churches to work to correct the problems of economic injustice towards women within their churches and societies, and to help women and their children who are trapped in poverty to achieve economic emancipation and independence".

A new recommendation 4 was proposed by Mr Jozsef Gyori of the Reformed Church in Hungary:

"The general council welcomes the positive political changes in some east European countries and the Soviet Union, and encourages member churches in this area to support fully the process towards democratization".

A vote was taken and it was agreed.

Concerning recommendation 5 (former 4)

1. A proposition by Ms Evelyn Martin of Austria that the words "within their churches" be deleted was put to the vote and lost.
2. A proposition by Ms Evelyn Martin of Austria that the words "to reject the concept of just war and eliminate the image of 'enemy' to work for the vision of 'shalom' in today's world" replace the proposed text was put to the vote and lost.
3. A proposition by Prof Dr Guus Meuleman of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands that the words "dismantle foreign military bases" be completed by "wherever they are being maintained against the will of the people" was accepted by the committee.

Rev Hugh Davidson of the Church of Scotland proposed that "production and sale of arms" be replaced by "abolish trade in arms". A vote was taken and it was agreed.

5d) - in the final text 5c) - now read: "insist that their governments abolish the trade in arms to other countries, dismantle foreign military bases wherever they are being maintained against the will of the people, stop foreign intervention in the sovereignty of other nations, work actively for disarmament among all nations, abandon war and the use of force as an appropriate means of settling disputes." It was agreed that this would be redrafted.

A new 5f) - in the final text 5e - was proposed by Rev George Mourad of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon: "support the efforts of the peace-making towards human rights in Cambodia, the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Palestine and south Sudan". A vote was taken and it was agreed.

Afternoon session: Plenary 11

The general council was reopened at 2.30 pm. Dr Allan Boesak asked Prof DWD Shaw of the Church of Scotland to preside at this plenary session of the general council.

Report of the nominations committee

As this had been decided in the morning, the report of the nominations committee was presented in an open plenary session.

Professor Shaw asked Ms Sylvia Michel of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches to address the council as moderator of the nominations committee.

Dr Johannes Langhoff of the DDR proposed that the meeting be "closed" as was traditionally the case, rather than "open" as had been announced. A vote was taken and the motion declared lost by 89 to 72 with a number of abstentions.

In the name of the nominations committee, Ms Sylvia Michel proposed a set of ten special rules for nominations and elections. These proposed rules led to a considerable debate that included interventions from Dr Marsha Wilfong, USA; Dr William P Thompson, USA; Dr Grégoire Ambadiang de Mendeng, Cameroon; Ms Corinne Marc, France; Rev Gregor Henderson, Australia; Rev Antoine Pfeiffer, France; Dr Paul Fries, USA; Rev Charles Jansz, Sri Lanka; Rev HR Reitzel, Morocco; Rev JM Ukaegbu, Nigeria; and Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick, USA.

A meeting of the nominations committee was held in the recess and when Professor Shaw convoked the council at 4.45 pm, Ms Michel announced that the committee withdrew the ten rules that had, she assured the council, been intended to simplify the proceedings. She now proceeded to give the report of the nominations committee which had met 7 times. Miss Grace Vu had withdrawn. Very considerable efforts had been made to try to balance youth and age, regional origins, laypersons and pastors, and sex.

Ms Michel thanked the members of the committee for their work and asked that the report be accepted, without the ten rules. (Appendix 16)

Professor Shaw read rule 15 of the conduct of business. Nominations from the floor would be accepted at 2.30 pm the next day.

Rev Evert Overeem of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands pointed out that a number of names on the list proposed were the names of members of the nominations committee. Ms Michel said that it had been decided that committee members could stand. People had left the room when their names were being considered.

Rev Pamela Dickey Young of the United Church of Canada asked why there were fewer women than men. Ms Michel answered that there were fewer women delegates.

Ms Dominique Viaux of the Reformed Church in France proposed that regional meetings be held before the vote, but withdrew the motion when the general secretary said that this would be the case.

Rev Prof G Newlands of the Church of Scotland asked if it were true that one candidate had only arrived yesterday. The general secretary said that this was the case.

Rev Samuel Dansokho of the Protestant Church of Senegal asked how many French speakers there were on the submitted list. The general secretary said that there was only one.

Rev Charles Jansz of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka pointed that once again there were no delegates from Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand or Pakistan. Rev George Mourad of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon said that there was nobody from the Middle East.

Rev Kirk Hudson proposed that the North American group give up their planned evening meeting so that regional meetings might be held. A vote was held and the motion carried by 83 votes to 62.

The general council rose

Regional meetings were held in the evening.

Friday. August 25 1989

Morning worship was held in the auditorium at 8.30 am.

Morning session: Plenary 12

The general council convened at 9.15. Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Report of section III: "Justice, peace and the integrity of creation" (contd.)

Revised texts for numbers 2 and 5 were distributed.

Sir Ronald Wilson presented the new text of 5 (old 4) d. A vote was held and it was agreed with 2 abstentions.

5e) (old 4) was considered, a vote was held and the recommendation was passed unanimously.

The new text of number 2 was now considered.

Rev David Nesbitt of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland suggested the words "where necessary that" after "declare". A vote was held and the motion lost.

A second suggestion from Rev David Nesbitt that it read "member churches' countries" in the last line of 2d) was accepted by the committee.

Through Sir Ronald Wilson, the committee inserted the words "civil disobedience" before "non-violent" in 2b) A vote was held and it was agreed.

Prof Dr Lukas Vischer proposed that "civil disobedience" be included in the study under 2d). A vote was held and it was agreed.

A vote was held on the whole text of section III, recommendation 2. It was agreed.

The committee proposed that recommendation 6 (old 5) be left to policy reference committee 2 which was working on Korea. This was agreed.

Concerning recommendation 7 (old 6), Prof Dr Lukas Vischer proposed the following motion:

"That the Alliance constantly draws attention to the threats to creation and in particular urges its member churches and its congregations to raise their voice to make their own members and society at large conscious of the threats to the earth's atmosphere - the greenhouse effect and the destruction of the ozone layer. Rapid action is required if disastrous consequences for the whole created world are to be avoided. Many examples of action can be given. The burning of fossil materials needs to be drastically reduced which means, among many other things, diminishing heating and private car transport and renouncing the further development of air traffic. The production of sprays, styrofoam and similar materials needs to come to an immediate halt. Special attention is to be given to the preservation and replanting of forests. Facing the threats to creation calls inevitably for a radically simplified lifestyle especially in the industrialized countries. Furthermore, the Sabbath as a day of rest for all creation must be defended. Educational programmes on our covenant responsibility to live in harmony with creation should be provided to undergird the liturgical and faith commitments of the member congregations."

The motion was seconded and accepted by the committee and agreed by the council when a vote was held.

A new recommendation 8 was proposed by Rev Bediako of Ghana:

"That the general council call its member churches to discern when their governments act unjustly in the dumping of toxic wastes. These toxic wastes harm God's creation, hurt people and destroy livelihoods of individuals and communities."

A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously with the addition of the words "nuclear and" before "toxic".

Dr Jane Dempsey Douglass of the Presbyterian Church (USA) proposed a new recommendation 9:

"That the general council urge the member churches to engage themselves in serious efforts to protect the land itself, a precious and irreplaceable gift of God and essential source for life, learning about and supporting a) agricultural methods which protect the land's fertility and b) development planning which is respectful of the land."

A vote was held and the motion agreed.

Concerning recommendation 10 (old 7), the committee made changes to the printed text "while welcoming its beneficial applications" after "council" in line 1 and "to theological and ethical" in the same line.

Rev Dr Laszlo Medyesy of the United Church of Christ in the USA wished to insert "the use of abortion as a means of birth control" after "foetus". Rev Morag Logan of the Uniting Church of Australia spoke against this amendment because the issue here was that of genetic engineering.

A vote was taken and the motion lost.

Rev Clyde Miller of the United Church of Christ in the USA proposed that "the exploitation of reproductive technologies" come in after "commercialization of childbirth".

A vote was taken and the motion passed.

Concerning recommendation 11 (old number 8), a vote was held and the motion passed.

Recommendation 12 (number 10 of the redrafted resolutions) was presented by Rev Pires da Silveira of Brazil. Rev Khawlhring Lungmuana of the Presbyterian Church in North East India disliked the term "third world". Mr John Gilbey of the United Reformed Church in the United Kingdom suggested "many indebted countries". At this point the president suggested "poorer countries of the world" instead of "third world" in line 1 of a).

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Ms Dominique Viaux of the Reformed Church of France wished to add "and those of indebted countries" after "creditor nations" in c).

A vote was held and the motion carried.

Rev Esteban Arias Ardila of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia proposed a new recommendation 13:

"That the general council gives full support to the peace-making efforts by the group of five Central American presidents (Arias plan) seeking a resolution of the situation in Nicaragua, and calls on member churches in the United States to press their government to respect the ruling by the International Court of Justice upholding Nicaraguan sovereignty. "

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Rt. Rev Dr James Udogu Ukaegbu of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria proposed a new recommendation 14:

"That the general council alert its members and condemns the use of abortion as a means of birth control".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Recommendation 15, previously numbered 9, was proposed by Sir Ronald Wilson.

A vote was held and it was agreed.

The council rose at 10.55 am.

The general council was convoked at 11.00 am.

Report of section II: "Mission and Unity" (Appendix 17)

The president introduced the moderator of section II, Most Rev Din Dayal of the Church of North India, and his deputies, Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Rev Thobias Arnoldus Messakh, Christian Evangelical Church in Timor, Indonesia.

Most Rev Din Dayal read part of part I of the report ("Towards a deeper understanding of mission") and proposed the three recommendations at the end of part I.

Recommendation 1 was put to the vote and agreed unanimously.

Recommendation 2 was put to the vote and agreed.

Recommendation 3 was put to the vote and agreed.

The moderator read part of part II of the report ("Division in the Reformed family"). He proposed the two recommendations at the end of part II.

Recommendation 1 was put to the vote and agreed.

Recommendation 2 was put to the vote and agreed.

Rev J Andrews of the PCUSA proposed a new recommendation 3:

"That the World Alliance of Reformed Churches challenge its member churches to treat each other and treat non-member churches in ways that a) preserve and promote unity, b) nurture community between churches, and c) avoid any suggestion that dividing a Christian community is an acceptable way to solve social problems or resolve theological issues".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

The moderator read part of part III of the report ("The role of the Reformed churches in the ecumenical movement"). He proposed the three recommendations at the end of part III.

Concerning recommendation 1, Dr Peter Donald of the Church of Scotland suggested adding the words "renewal of the whole church in the light of the gospel" to the end. The committee accepted this change.

The recommendation was put to the vote and agreed.

Recommendation 2 was put to the vote and agreed.

Recommendation 3 was put to the vote and agreed.

Mrs Moranut Pantupong of the Church of Christ in Thailand proposed a new number 4:

"That the World Alliance of Reformed Churches encourage member churches to engage fearlessly in dialogue with persons of other faiths with a view to better mutual understanding, and for the renewal of society".

A suggestion that the words "and ideologies" be added after "faiths" was voted on and defeated.

Mrs Pantupong's original wording was then put to the vote and agreed.

Rev Frank Beattie of the Presbyterian Church (USA) proposed a new number 5:

"That the general council encourage the general secretary and the executive committee, while participating with energy and enthusiasm in ecumenical activities and dialogues, to continue to promote the unique contributions to Christ's church brought by the Reformed family of churches".

A vote was held and the motion lost.

A vote was held and the whole of the section II report agreed.

The general council rose at 12.30 pm.

Afternoon session: Plenary 13

The general council was reopened at 2.00 pm. Prof DWD Shaw of the Church of Scotland presided during this plenary session of the general council.

Report of the nominations committee (contd.)

The following nominations by members of the council were added to those already proposed by the nominations committee (Appendix 16).

Professor Dr Chung-Hyun Ro, Presbyterian Church in Korea, for the post of president, proposed by Rev Hrilrokhum Thiek of the Presbyterian Church in North East India, seconded by Rev Stephen Lakiang of the same church.

The president asked for advice on whether a person could be nominated to two positions, Professor Ro being proposed for the position of vice-president by the nominations committee. Mrs Margaret Watson of the Uniting Church of Australia suggested that all nominations be left open until the post above them was filled. A vote was taken and the proposition carried by 130 votes against 78.

Rev Roland Revet, Reformed Church of France, was proposed for the post of vice-president by Rev HU Reitzel of the Evangelical Church in Morocco, seconded by Rev David White of the Presbyterian Church of Mauritius.

Rev Prof Karel Blei of the Netherlands Reformed Church was proposed as moderator of the department of theology by Rev Pieter Bouman of the Protestant Church of Belgium, seconded by Rev Prof George Newlands of the Church of Scotland.

As members of the executive committee:
Rev Emil Zaki Girguis of the Synod of the Nile, proposed by the Rev HU Reitzel of the Evangelical Church in Morocco, seconded by Mr Elisan Daoud of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon (over against Rev Samual Ador, Presbyterian Church in the Sudan).
Rev Dr G Ambadiang de Mendeng of the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon, proposed by Rev Bouman of Belgium, seconded by Rev White of Mauritius and Rev Roland Revet of the Reformed Church of France (over against Dr Oskar Engelen, Gereja Masehi Injili Sangir/Talaud, Indonesia).
Rev Julius Norvila of the Reformed Church in Lithuania, proposed by Rev Dr Laszlo M Medyesy of the United Church of Christ in the USA and seconded by Rev James Tomasek of the same church (over against Dr Josef Hromadka, of the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren, CSSR).
Rev Karin Sporre of the Swedish Mission Covenant Church was proposed by Prof Dr Lars Lindberg of the same church, who conceded his nomination by the committee in favour of Ms Sporre. The proposition was seconded by Rev Helga Dusse of the Reformed Alliance in Germany.
Mrs Liliane Fegeat of the Reformed Church of Reunion Island was proposed by Ms Dominique Viaux of the Reformed Church of France, seconded by Rev White of Mauritius (over against Rev Dikangu Ndaye Presbyterian Community in West Kasai Zaire).
Rev Dr Peter D Latuihamallo of the Protestant Church in the Moluccas, proposed by Mrs WHH Menajangs of the Protestant Church of Western Indonesia, seconded by the Rev Thobias Arnoldus Messakh of the Christian Evangelical Church of Timor (also over against Rev Dikangu Ndaye, Presbyterian Community in West Kasai, Zaire).
Rev George Mourad of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon, proposed by Rev HU Reitzel of Morocco, seconded by Mr Ehsan Oaoud of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon (over against Dr Willy Roeroe, Gereja Masehi Injili di Minahasa, Indonesia).
Rev Dr Carlos Camps of the Presbyterian Church of Cuba, proposed by Rev Marsha Wilfong, seconded by Rev Jaime Quinones both of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (over against Mrs Dorinda Sampath, Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago).
Rev Joachim Guhrt of the Reformed Alliance in Germany, proposed by Dr HU Reitzel of Morocco, seconded by Rev George Mourad of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon (over against Rev Bertalan Tamas, Reformed Church in Hungary).
Rev Dr Edwin Mulder of the Reformed Church in America, proposed by Rev Paul Fries of the Reformed Church in America, seconded by Rev J Andrews of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (over against Rev James Tomasek, United Church of Christ, USA).
Rev Dr L Medyesy of the United Church of Christ in the USA, proposed by Rev Clyde Miller, seconded by Mr Charles Lockyear, both of the same church (also over against Rev James Tomasek, United Church of Christ, USA).
Dr Johannes Langhoff of the Reformed Association in East Germany, proposed by Dr Hinnerk Schroeder of the Reformed Alliance in West Germany, seconded by Ms Annegret Hamer of the Synod of the Reformed Churches in Bavaria and Northwest Germany (over against Rev Bogdan Tranda, Evangelical Church in Poland).
Rev Salvatore Ricciardi of the Waldensian Church, Italy, proposed by Ms Dominique Viaux of the Reformed Church of France, seconded by Rev P Bouman of Belgium (also over against Rev Bogdan Tranda, Evangelical Church in Poland).

Rev Samuel Oke Esono Atugu of the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea, proposed by Rev Felix Agou of the Protestant Church of Christ the King, Central African Republic, seconded by Mrs Liliane Fegeat of the Reformed Church of Reunion Island (also over against Rev Bogdan Tranda, Evangelical Church in Poland).

Prof DWD Shaw indicated that the elections were scheduled for the same day at 4.30 pm.

The president of WARC, Rev Dr Allan Boesak, then took the chair.

Report of policy reference committee I (Appendix 18. p. 218)

Professor Chung-Hyun Ro, moderator of the committee, introduced Rev Dr Victor Makari who would deal with the section on the "Alliance in the Nineties" after the rest of the report had been considered.

Professor Ro proposed the recommendation concerning the youth rally report (section 2, D and annex 4 of the report).

A vote was held and the motion passed.

The general council then considered section 2, C, II, "Women's issues and human rights". In connection with recommendation 1 in that part of the report, Ms Janet Wood of the Uniting Church of Australia spoke of the need for a seconded staff member to consider issues related to women's rights, and asked the executive committee to seek for such a person. The president said that Ms Wood's suggestion could be dealt with in connection with section 4 "finances" of this report.

The council considered recommendation 2. The words "regarding human rights" were added after "witness".

A vote was taken and the motion agreed.

It was recommended that the report on publications (section 2, C, I and annex 2) be referred to the new executive.

A vote was taken, and the motion was agreed.

The council considered the policy statement on refugees (section 2, E and annex 3). It was recommended to the new executive committee.

A vote was taken and it was agreed.

The council considered the need for a new study booklet (section 3).

A vote was taken and it was agreed.

The council considered the recommendations on finance (section 4).

Recommendation 1 was passed with acclamation when the departing moderator of the department of finance, Mr John Gilbey, was thanked for his years of service.

Recommendation 2 was considered. Dr J Langhoff of the Reformed Association in the GDR suggested that the words "or through the support of partner churches" be added to the end.

A vote was taken and it was agreed.

Recommendation 2 was then voted in this new form. It was agreed.

There was a break between 4.00 and 4.30 pm.

Report of the nominations committee (contd).

Prof DWD Shaw chaired the general council.

Eight tellers were appointed: Rev Yoon Shik Kim, Presbyterian Church of Korea: Mr John MacFarlane, Presbyterian Church of Canada; Ms Julia Esquivel, Guatemala; Rev Moses Ushi, Nigeria; Rev Dr Alan Lewis, USA; Dr Alasdair Heron, Germany; Ms Grace Eneme, Cameroon; Ms Kathy Helseth, USA.

A vote was held for the position of president. Rev Dr Allan Boesak received 196 votes, Prof Chung-Hyun Ro received 45 votes. Dr Boesak was declared elected.

A vote was held for a position of vice-president. Prof Chung-Hyun Ro received 135 votes. Rev Roland Revet received 104 votes. Prof Ro was declared elected.

Prof Dr Jane Dempsey Douglass, Presbyterian Church (USA) and Rev Dr Abival Pires da Silveira, Independent Presbyterian Church in Brazil, were elected by acclamation as vice-presidents.

A vote was held for the position of moderator of the department of theology.

Prof Dr Lukas Vischer received 118 votes. Rev Prof Karel Blei received 122 votes. Professor Blei was declared elected.

Prof Dr Chang Sang, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, was elected by acclamation as moderator of the department of co-operation and witness.

Dr Herbert Ehnes, Church of Lippe, Federal Republic of Germany, was elected by acclamation as moderator of the department of finance.

A vote was held for a position on the executive committee. Rev Zaki Girguis received 75 votes. Rev Samuel Ador received 164 votes. Rev Ador was declared elected.

Rev Dr James E Andrews, Presbyterian Church (USA), Attorney Emilio Capulong Jr., United Church of Christ, Philippines, Rev Hugh Davidson, Church of Scotland, Mrs Lydia Aku Eleblu, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, were elected by acclamation as members of the executive committee.

A vote was held for a position on the executive committee. Dr Oskar Engelen received 116 votes. Rev Dr Grégoire Ambadiang de Mendeng received 122 votes. Dr Ambadiang de Mendeng was declared elected.

Prof Dr Stephen Ch. Farris, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Ms Daphne Elizabeth Gilmour, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Ms Ann Hadfield, Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, Prof Dr Pieter N Holtrop, Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, were elected by acclamation as members of the executive committee.

A vote was held for a position on the executive committee. Dr Josef Hromadka received 73 votes. Rev J Norvila received 166 votes. Rev Norvila was declared elected.

Mrs Ruth Kao, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Mr Ben Masilo, Lesotho Evangelical Church, Mrs Joy Michael, Church of North India, were elected by acclamation as members of the executive committee.

Votes were held for a position on the executive committee. On a first vote: Rev Dikangu Ndaye received 71 votes; Rev Dr PD Latuihamallo received 60 votes; Mrs Liliane Fegeat received 108 votes. On a second vote: Rev Ndaye received 76 votes; Mrs Fegeat received 149 votes. Mrs Fegeat was declared elected.

Rev Mary Paik, Presbyterian Church (USA), was elected by acclamation as member of the executive committee.

A vote was held for a position on the executive committee. Rev G Mourad received 135 votes. Prof W Roeroe received 103 votes. Rev Mourad was declared elected.

A vote was held for a position on the executive committee. Mrs Dorinda Sampath received 92 votes. Rev Dr Carlos Camps received 148 votes. Dr Camps was declared elected.

Rev Karin Sporre, Mission Covenant Church of Sweden, and Ms Andrea Stuker, Swiss Federation of Protestant Churches, were elected by acclamation as members of the executive committee.

A vote was held for a position on the executive committee. Rev Bertalan Tamas received 136 votes. Rev Joachim Guhrt received 99 votes. Rev Tamas was declared elected.

Votes were held for a position on the executive committee. On a first vote: Rev James Tomasek received 78 votes; Rev Dr E Mulder received 117 votes; Rev Dr L Medyesy received 39 votes. On a second vote: Rev Tomasek received 72 votes; Rev Dr E Mulder received 157 votes. Dr Mulder was declared elected.

Rev Javier Torres N, Presbyterian Church of Venezuela, was elected by acclamation as member of the executive committee.

Votes were held for a position on the executive committee On a first vote: Rev B Tranda received 60 votes; Rev J Langhoff received 53 votes; Rev S Ricciardi received 60 votes; Rev S Oke received 64 votes. On a second vote: Rev B Tranda received 66 votes; Rev S Ricciardi received 80 votes; Rev S Oke received 90 votes. On a third vote: Rev S Ricciardi received 120 votes; Rev S Oke received 112 votes. Rev S Ricciardi was declared elected.

Rev Dr Robert S Wood, Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church, USA, was elected by acclamation as member of the executive committee.

Professor Shaw congratulated the newly elected office-holders of the Alliance and thanked the tellers for their work.

The list of the elected members of the WARC executive committee is appended (Appendix 19).

The general council rose at 6.00 pm.

Saturday, August 26 1989

Morning worship was celebrated for the last time at 8.30 am in the auditorium, and warm thanks were expressed to Rev Charles Odier and Rev Karin Bredull for all their work. Thanks were also offered to the choir.

Morning session: Plenary 14

The general council convened at 9.15 am. Dr Allan A Boesak, the WARC president, chaired the meeting.

Report of policy reference committee I (contd.)

The council continued to consider the recommendations on finance (section 4). A new resolution 4 was submitted.

Dr Ehnes suggested that the 1990 budget be sent to member churches. Dr Stephen Farris of the Presbyterian Church in Canada proposed:

1. that a copy of the annual financial statement of the Alliance be sent to each member church as soon as possible after the presentation to the executive;
2. that a copy of the budget for the upcoming year be sent to each member church as soon as possible each year and
3. that a copy of both the financial statement for the previous year and the proposed budget for the coming year be sent to all delegates to the next general council as part of the package of preparatory materials such delegates receive.

Votes were held on recommendations 3, 4, 5, and 6; they were agreed.

Section 5, amendments to the constitution and by-laws, was then considered. The amendment to the constitution (Article XII) had been considered by the executive committee and the proposed change sent in time to all member churches. No reaction had been received.

A vote was held and it was passed unanimously.

Concerning the by-laws, the new proposed paragraph in II general council a) composition 1 was put to the vote and it was passed unanimously.

Concerning the text VII finance, c), Mr John MacFarlane proposed that the words "an annual" be added between "a" and "budget".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Mr John Gilbey proposed that the beginning of 2 c) (i) should read "Any proposals for the disbursement of any funds relating to the Alliance other than...".

A vote was held and the motion accepted.

The full text of the constitution and by-laws as amended appears in Appendix 20 p 253.

The question of "dialogue with other faiths" (annex 1) having been dealt with under section II (mission and unity), it was proposed by Prof Dr Lukas Vischer, voted and agreed that this report be presented to the new executive committee for refinement and appropriate action.

Nominations

Sir Ronald Wilson proposed the following motion.

"That this general council request the executive committee to implement at the next meeting of the general council a new method of nomination and election of officers of the council and members of the executive committee which provides for the following:

1. an opportunity for delegates to make nominations before the nominations committee begins its work;.
2. the primary task of the nominations committee is to sift the nominations received with a view to ensuring that WARC is furnished with leadership that is sufficently experienced and is balanced having regard to age, sex , region and experience;.
3. when it deems it necessary to do so, in order to achieve an adequate balance, the committee shall have power to add nominations itself;.
4. the nominations committee itself should not exceed eight members and, if possible, should not include persons who are themselves the subject of nomination".

The motion was passed by acclamation.

Message to the congregations of WARC member churches (Appendix 21, p. 262)

A message was presented by Rev Paul Fries of the Reformed Church in America, in the name of the committee that drafted it. He said that this was primarily a pastoral rather than a prophetic document and that it tried to avoid theological jargon. Some words "an experience which came to characterize the entire council" were to be left out of lines 5 and 6 of the first paragraph and the words "ministries of the church. We must also seek renewal in the humble" be inserted between "the" and "disciplines" of line 8 of the second paragraph.

After discussion, Rev Evert Overeem of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands proposed that the debate be stopped and the message put to the vote. A vote was held and it was decided that the debate be stopped. A vote was then held on the proposed text which was accepted by the council.

Handicapped

Rev James Tomasek of the United Church of Christ in the USA proposed the following motion:

"The general council reaffirm the 21st general council's resolution 'on disabled' and request the executive committee to take the contents of this resolution into account in our planning of all future WARC meetings, giving consideration to the needs of the disabled, handicapped and the aged".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Report of policy reference committee I (contd.)

Concerning section I of the report ("The Alliance in the Nineties"), Rev Dr Victor Makari proposed the following motion:

"Faced with today's challenges, the general council recognizes the need of the Alliance to move in the direction recommended in the report on the "Alliance in the Nineties", and endorse it, in principle, with appreciation and enthusiasm ".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Dr Ehnes, moderator of the department of finance, said that all delegates had now received copies of the contributions of member churches. He encouraged all present to encourage their churches to contribute on their return home.

The business of the policy reference committee I now being completed the whole text of the report was ready to be received.

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Report of section I: "Towards a common testimony of faith" (contd).

The reception of the report of policy reference committee I resolved the problem of the text concerning the women's desk that had arisen in the consideration of the report of section I. Thus the text of section I could now be received.

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Greetings (contd).

Monsignor John Radano was welcomed by the president and read a message from Pope John Paul II (see Appendix 9, p 142).

Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches (SAARC).

The following resolution on the Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches (SAARC) was proposed and seconded by the steering committee:

"The 22nd general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, having received the communication dated July 28 1989 from the Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches signed by its chairman the Rev Kgolo Felix Mokobi, makes the following response:

"The general council welcomes the initiative taken by member churches in southern Africa to organize an area within the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and pursuant to article IX of the constitution authorizes the organization of an area including member churches in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to be known as the Southern Africa Alliance of Reformed Churches. The organization shall be effected in conformity with the constitution and by-laws. When the area has drawn up its constitution and by-laws they shall be submitted to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches for ratification by the general council or the executive committee.

"After the organization of the area has been completed, article VI of the by-laws shall be amended to include the name of the area".

The Rev Felix Mokobi asked that the churches in the islands of Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar be included in this resolution.

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Calvin Auditorium

The general secretary outlined the new agreement between the National Protestant Church of Geneva and WARC described in the preparatory booklet "From Ottawa to Seoul", pp.20-21. He proposed the following motion in the name of the steering committee:

"The general council ratifies the agreement passed between the National Protestant Church of Geneva and the WARC executive committee (decisions of the Geneva church on June 3 1987 and of the WARC executive committee on October 17 1987) and thanks the Church of Geneva for its willingness to carry the administration of the building. It is understood that the new agreement needs mutual consent of WARC and the ENPG (Geneva Church) to be ratified".

A vote was held and it was agreed

The general council rose for lunch.

Afternoon session: Plenary 15

The general council was reopened at 2.00 pm. President Dr Allan A Boesak was in the chair .

Vote of thanks (Appendix 22)

A vote of thanks to many people who had helped organize the general council was proposed by Dr Marsha Wilfong of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Gifts were given to the general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Korea, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Dr Yong-Tae Kim, chair of the Korean preparations committee, and Dr Yong-Bock Kim, secretary. Dr Yong-Tae Kim responded with a gift for Dr Boesak. Dr Boesak spoke of the incredible hospitality of the Korean churches and people.

The president also spoke warmly of the great services rendered to the Alliance by Dr William P Thompson of the Presbyterian Church (USA). There was, he assured Dr Thompson, no method for adequately thanking him.

The motion was passed with acclamation.

Report of policy reference committee II (Appendix 23)

The report was presented by Rev Evert Overeem of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands.

1) Romania

The council considered the recommendations. Rev Bogdan Tranda of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland proposed a new number 4:

"We address the suffering people of Romania with serious concern and express our sorrow for their deplorable situation With deep sympathy and solidarity we think of you, our brothers and sisters and in constant prayer we present to God our concern for you. Be sure that we shall not stop seeking opportunity to express our love in practical ways that would relieve your suffering and bring you comfort and strength".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

The two last paragraphs were now numbered "5" and "6". In the first line of number 5 the words "in Romania" were added between "situation" and "and".

In the second line of number 6 the words "in Romania" were added after "churches".

The text of the section was now approved by the general council.

2) Korea

The council considered the recommendations.

A vote was held on recommendation 1 and it was agreed.

Rev Russel Botman of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa proposed that "teachers" be added after "students" in line 1 of recommendation 2. The committee accepted this change.

A vote was held and the recommendation was agreed.

Votes were held on numbers 3 and 4. They were agreed.

A new number 5 was introduced:

"That the general council declares its opposition to any law and structures that contradict the principles of peace and reunification enunciated by the Korean churches".

A vote was held and it was agreed with one voice against and 14 abstentions.

Mr Hyung Ki Kim, youth delegate, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, wished to propose the motion:

"We believe that it is not just to arrest and try Rev Moon Ik Whan, Ms Im Su Kyung, a woman student, and Father Moon Kyu Hyun only by judicial process of the Korean government. If peace and reunification of Korea are the genuine aspiration of all Koreans, then we should do our best to accept the true will of them with faith and truth. WARC and the member churches pray together for the immediate release of the above three persons and we do support their action as prophetic witnesses in Christ."

The motion was declared out of order by the president since this motion had not been considered by the committee. Sir Ronald Wilson stated that section III had also considered Korean issues and that this would let us complete section III, if a motion could be developed. Rev Kim Sang Keun of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea was asked to draw a motion. He proposed:

"That the general council asks the member churches to pray for the immediate release of Rev Moon Ik Whan, Ms Im Su Kyung and Father Moon Kyu Hyun who expressed in their courageous visit to North Korea profound hope for peace and reunification in Korea".

An amendment was proposed by Ms Kang, Kyo Cha of the Presbyterian Church of Korea who pointed out that there were a number of people in prison, and that it was better not to name them all. She proposed the amendment:

"The general council urges all member churches to pray for those who are in prison because of the struggle for the peace and reunification of Korea".

A vote was held and the amendment was carried.

Report of section III: "Justice, peace and the integrity of creation" (contd.)

Sir Ronald Wilson moved:

1. "that the report of section III be received";
2. "that the recommendations dealing with Korea that are appended to the report be approved. subject to the resolution which encourages participation in the world day of prayer for peace and reunification being modified to bring it into line with resolution 3 in the policy reference committee 2 report".

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Report of policy reference committee II (contd)

3) Sri Lanka

Mrs Joy Michael of the Church of North India objected to paragraph c) at the head of the page and wanted the words "including the speedy and negotiated withdrawal of the IPKF" removed. Elder R F Nugara of the Presbytery of Lanka and Rev Charles Jansz of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka pointed out that the IPKF had been invited to their country by the president, and not by the people. Professor G Newlands of the Church of Scotland proposed removing the first sentence of paragraph c). Rev E Overeem pointed out that the debate was about the recommendations and not the preamble. The president closed the debate by ruling that paragraphs a), b) and c) be put in quotation marks to show that they are the view of the Sri Lanka churches.

Proposal 1 was put to the vote and agreed.

Proposal 2 was considered. Ms Dominique Viaux of the Reformed Church of France wanted "taking into account the aspirations of all parties involved" added after "IPKF".

A vote was held and the motion rejected.

Rev G Mourad of the Synod of Syria and Lebanon wanted the text to end with the words "sovereignty of their country". Revs E Overeem and C Jansz spoke against this.

A vote was held and the motion lost.

A vote was now held on the original text of number 2 which was agreed without modification.

A vote was held on proposal 3 and it was agreed.

4) The Pacific, Australia, and Aotearoa/New Zealand

4.1) Australian aboriginal issues

The general council considered the recommendations:

Recommendation 1 was put to the vote and agreed.

Concerning recommendation 2, Rev Dr Graeme Robert Ferguson of the Uniting Church in Australia suggested the addition of the word "continue" in line 4. The committee accepted this change.

A vote was held and number 2 agreed.

Concerning recommendation 3, Rev Gregor Henderson of the Uniting Church of Australia suggested that the words "history and" be added to line 2 and Rev P Bouman of the United Church of Belgium wanted "Roman" added before "Catholic". The committee accepted these changes.

A vote was held and number 3 agreed.

Recommendation 4 was put to the vote and agreed.

4.2) New Caledonia

The general council considered the proposals:

Concerning recommendation 1, Ms Dominique Viaux of the Reformed Church of France pointed out that the Matignon accords were not about independence and proposed that the words "under the Matignon accords" be deleted.

It was agreed.

Concerning recommendation 2, Rev A Pfeiffer of the Reformed Church in Alsace and Lorraine proposed that "continue their action to" be added to line 1.

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Recommendation 3 was agreed with the addition of "committee" in line 1.

4.3) Drift net fishing

The general council considered the text.

A vote was held and the text agreed. The name of the church mentioned in the last paragraph is the Church of Christ in Japan (Nippon Kirisuto Kyokai).

4.4) Nuclear issues

The general council considered the text.

Recommendations a), b) and c) were voted and accepted.

5) Sudan

The general council considered the text and recommendations 1, 2, 3, and 4 were voted and agreed.

6) Statement on peace

The general council considered the text; paragraph 3.5 was deleted.

Concerning recommendation 41, a vote was held and the text agreed, with "instruct" being put in instead of "request" in line 1.

A vote was held on recommendation 42 and the text agreed.

Concerning recommendation 43, the word "are" was removed from the second last line.

A vote was held and the text agreed.

7) Capital punishment

The general council considered the text.

A vote was held on the recommendation:

"The World Alliance of Reformed Churches calls for the abolition of the death penalty" and it was agreed.

The president noted that the other three recommendations were closely related. Rev Gregor Henderson of the Uniting Church of Australia then proposed that the whole section be adopted.

A vote was held and this was agreed.

8) Southern Africa

The general council considered this section of the report.

8.1) Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa

Concerning the recommendations dealing with the Dutch Reformed Church, Prof Dr Lukas Vischer proposed a new 3.1 :

"The statement on racism adopted by the Ottawa general council (From Ottawa to Seoul, pp.34-39) was shared with all member churches with the request for an official response. The replies received (p.44) show that the statement reflects the conviction of the large majority of the member churches. In the light of these replies the general council feels entitled to reaffirm the statement as being representative of the position of member churches of the Alliance."

Rev E Overeem expressed some reserve, but the statement was accepted by the committee.

A vote was held and Prof Vischer's text accepted instead of that of the report.

Votes were held and 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38 and 39 were accepted as presented.

3.5 was agreed, with the words "adopt a" replacing "enter into".

3.10 was accepted with the words "including members and theologians" being deleted.

8.2) Namibia

The general council considered the recommendations:

Recommendations 1 and 2 were voted and agreed.

Recommendation 3 was voted and accepted with the word "committee" being added after "executive".

Concerning recommendation 4, the president informed the council that a member of the SACC delegation would be asked to be our representative, since the SACC team was in Namibia for several days. The resolution would be acted upon within the bounds of possibility.

A vote was held and it was agreed.

Recommendation 5 was voted and agreed.

8.3) Destabilization

The general council considered the recommendations:

Recommendations A.1, 2, 2.1 and 2.2 were voted together and agreed.

Recommendation 8.1 was voted and agreed, with the change of "urges" for "requests" in line 2 at the suggestion of Rev AP Malungu of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola.

Recommendation 8.2 was voted on and agreed.

8.4) South African internal situation

Concerning recommendation 1.1, Rev Dr CR Ferguson of the Uniting Church of Australia said that this motion should be sent to the department of theology because he felt that the Alliance was not yet clear about the theological basis of "status confessionis".

A vote was held and 1.1 was agreed.

Concerning recommendation 1.2, Rev Dr Pamela Dickey Young of the United Church of Canada disliked calling people non-Christian, despite Dr Van der Merwe who pointed out that we can know who is Christian, and she proposed that:

"That one cannot be faithful and obedient to the gospel and support apartheid".

A vote was held and the motion passed.

The whole text of 1.2 was now passed, including Ms Dickey Young's amendment.

Recommendations 1.3 and 1.4 were voted upon and these recommendations were agreed.

Concerning recommendation 2, Prof Dr Lukas Vischer expressed his uneasiness. The delegates were very tired at the end of a long session and many had now left the auditorium. He felt that the council no longer had a mature consensus. He also felt that the criteria expressed in this motion could apply to many other governments and not only that of South Africa. He believed that more thought was needed.

Dr Herbert Ehnes of the Church of Lippe said that the Alliance should look at the legality as well as the legitimacy of the South African government. Rev E Overeem said that the suffering people of South Africa needed our support. Rev Gregor Henderson of the Uniting Church of Australia pointed out that a resolution had already been passed under section III asking the executive council to report on the illegitimate government and to report to the 23rd general council.

Rev B Tranda of the Polish Evangelical Reformed Church found the whole section convincing but difficult to reconcile with the Bible. Could justification for 2.1.4 be found in the Bible?.

Dr Marsha Wilfong said that the Alliance had taken twenty years to decide about apartheid and that two weeks was too short to decide this matter. She proposed that the whole of recommendation 2 be referred to the executive committee for consideration.

This motion was carried. The text reads :

"Therefore WARC finds - in humility and awe - the South African government to be illegitimate and calls on all Christians:

• to regard the South African government as illegitimate in the light of the Bible and the Reformed tradition because it
  1. is unrepresentative,
  2. is founded on the evil ideology of apartheid,
  3. contravenes human rights,
  4. is rejected by the majority of the people,
  5. does not serve the "common good"; and
• to defy the authority of the illegitimate government in a way that is compatible with their Christian witness".

Concerning recommendation 3 (recommendation 2 in the final text), Rev E Overeem asked if the decision not to accept recommendation 2 made it impossible to consider recommendation 3. Professor S Farris of the Presbyterian Church in Canada said that this could be done if we took the recommendations on illegitimate government proposed in section III. Dr Arthur Van Seters of the Presbyterian Church in Canada then proposed that the preamble to recommendation 3 read:

"In the light of the report of section III, recommendation 2, WARC calls on the world and all its institutions and governments..."

A vote was held and this text agreed.

Concerning recommendation 3.1, Mr John Gilbey expressed his willingness to vote for 3.2 and 3.3 but said that he could not support 3.1 in its present form. Dr Marsha Wilfong suggested that the text be changed: "to accept the legitimacy of the civil disobedience of the oppressed in South Africa and government". Professor George Newlands of the Church of Scotland wanted the text to end at "South Africa".

The president then suggested the following: "to accept the legitimacy of the civil disobedience of the oppressed in South Africa".

A vote was held and Dr Boesak's text agreed.

A vote was held on recommendation 3.2 and it was agreed.

Concerning recommendation 3.3, Rev Derek M Wales of the United Reformed Church proposed a revised text: "to respond positively to the call of the ecumenical community in South Africa for mandatory and effective sanctions aimed at accelerating the process of transformation".

The committee accepted this text; a vote was held and it was agreed.

A vote was held on recommendation 4 (recommendation 3 in the final text) and it was agreed.

9) China

The general council considered the text of the letter sent to Bishop Ting by Drs Boesak and Perret from the council. A vote was held and the council accepted this text.

31. Thanks (contd.)

A presentation was made to Rev Jean-Jacques Bauswein to thank him for all his work for the general council as assistant to the general secretary.

Many delegates had brought Bibles in their own languages and these were given to the secretary of the Korean preparatory committee, Dr Yong-Bock Kim.

Rev Dr Allan Boesak closed the session with prayer and Bible reading from Ephesians chapter 3. He declared that the 22nd general council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches would be closed with the benediction at the end of the closing worship service.

The general council rose at 6.10 pm.

Closing worship was held in the auditorium with holy communion, a presentation to Rev Dr Edmond Perret, the installation of the new executive committee and the induction of the new general secretary, Rev Dr Milan Opocensky (Appendix 24). Dr Milan Opocensky delivered the sermon (Appendix 25).